Cheers! Alcolase is a Denmark-based biotech company that wants to make alcohol intolerant people drink alcohol more safely. 

• Now, they’ve just raised a $1.65M~ (1.5M EUR) seed.

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Investor check. Ada Ventures, Delphinus Venture Capital, Antler, Manigoff Invest, and a group of business angels joined the round.

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🍺 The ABCs of Alcolase

Founded in 2020, Alcolase is developing a supplement for people with alcohol intolerance to take before drinking, so they can comfortably consume alcohol.

• The supplement uses a liposomal enzyme system designed to break down alcohol in the stomach before it reaches the bloodstream. 
• This is to prevent the symptoms of ALDH2 deficiency, which can include flushing, nausea, headaches, and a rapid heartbeat. 

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Some more detail. ALDH2 deficiency causes alcohol to become toxic to the body. It prevents the breakdown of acetaldehyde, a compound that is toxic to your cells, into acetic acid, which is a harmless acetate that the body can easily dispose of. 

• Alcolase’s supplement supports the breakdown of a moderate amount of alcohol.

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🍻 Why it matters

ALDH2 deficiency is linked to a higher cancer risk for people who drink. Alcolase’s product can be consumed by people who want to continue drinking despite having the condition.

It’s more than just the physical effects, though.

In social and work events where drinking is an unsaid expectation, people who have alcohol intolerance can feel left out of meaningful conversations.

• This is especially prevalent in Asia, particularly in Japan and Korea, where after-work office drinking is the norm. 
• Coincidentally, ALDH2 deficiency has the highest prevalence among East Asian populations. 

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📈 Their target markets

Alcolase’s first target market is Singapore, because of its openness to novel foods. (Think cell-cultured foods and plant-based meats.) Their next target market is South Korea. 

• They plan to launch through a local or regional distribution partner in the health and wellness space. 

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And their goals? For the next few years, Alcolase is targeting in-vivo validation, regulatory submissions, and scaled production.